Holiday Beverages Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic

With the holiday parties already upon us, it's still not too late to plan for those yet to come, especially the New years celebration. Decide if you will serve alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic, or both. If you do plan to celebrate with cocktails, plan to know when your guests have reached their limits, consider ahead of time someone responsible who can drive home a guest who has indulged in the spirits a little too far. The main thing to remember is to celebrate sensibly, and have fun.

These are a few of the traditional drinks enjoyed most often during the winter Holidays, especially those enjoyed for their warmth such as Mulled Wine and warmed Spiced Cider.

Makes 16 (1-cup) servings.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

1 gallon apple cider
1 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon Pure Orange Extract
1/2 teaspoon Pure Lemon Extract
4 Cinnamon Sticks
2 teaspoons Cloves, Whole
1 teaspoon Allspice, Whole

1. Mix all ingredients in 6 to 8-quart saucepot.

2. Simmer 30 minutes or until hot. Remove whole spices and serve warm.

1.5 Liter Bottle Dry Red Wine

Zest from 1 Lemon and 1 Orange

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

½ Tablespoon ginger

½ Tablespoon cloves

½ Tablespoon Nutmeg

Honey to taste

Pour wine into large saucepan and cook over low heat. Add lemon and orange zest. Place spices into a tea satchel and add to mixture. Brew for 30 minutes. Add honey for desired taste.

Pour wine through strainer and serve hot. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Ingredients

3 cups of cold water
3/4 cups sugar
5 cinnamon sticks
1 bottle Red or White Sparkling Grape Juice Cocktail, chilled
1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
3 bottles (16 oz. each) 7up soft drink, chilled
Ice cubes made with Sparkling Red or White Grape Juice Cocktail

In a medium saucepan, combine water, sugar and cinnamon sticks. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks, cover and refrigerate two hours.

In a decorative punch bowl, combine cinnamon syrup, Sparkling Red or  White Grape Juice Cocktail, orange juice, lemon juice and 7up. Add ice cubes. If desired, garnish punch with additional cinnamon sticks or float fruit-filled ice cubes, and fresh grapes. Makes about 30 1/2-cup servings.

(Serve with or without alcohol)

6 large eggs 
1/4 cup granulated sugar 
1/4 teaspoon salt, optional 
1 quart milk* - divided use
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In large saucepan, beat together eggs, sugar and salt, if desired. Stir in 2 cups of the milk.

Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat a metal spoon with a thin film and reaches at least 160°F (this is important for food safety with regards to the raw eggs).  Remove from heat. Stir in remaining 2 cups milk and vanilla.

May be served hot in a mug or cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, several hours or overnight. Just before serving, pour into bowl or pitcher. Garnish or add stir-ins, if desired. Serve immediately.

Makes 1 1/2 quarts or 12 (1/2-cup) servings.

Ingredients:

60 oz orange juice
40 oz pineapple juice
5 oz lemon juice
3 oz grenadine
lemon slices
lime slices
orange slices
red grapes
apple wedges

Pour the juices and grenadine into a punch bowl filled with ice. Stir well. Float fruit slices on top.

Serve in individual cups filled with ice.

Whether you're suffering through the symptoms of a cold, or just in from battling the elements of winter, a Hot Toddy is just what the doctor ordered!

2 oz Rum (or your choice of alcohol)
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup boiling water
3 whole cloves
1 slice lemon
nutmeg to taste

1. Pour the rum, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon into a heat-resistant mug.
2. Pour in the boiling water and stir well.
3. Fasten the cloves to the peel of the lemon slice and drop it in.
4. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve

It's a common fact that an appealing presentation of food (imagined or real) makes it taste better.  Try a few variations of a common detail.  For example in the Peppermint smoothie above, crush a candy cane, wet the rim of the glass and dip it into the crushed sticky sweet candy.

Likewise, give a festive touch to other drinks such as Margaritas and Pina Coladas by similarly using food coloring to make salt or coconut flakes a Holiday shade of red or green before dipping the respective drink's rim in those!